WELCOME to CAROLINA PANACHE! I believe our homes should be a haven, a place of beauty and peace that reflect who we are and what's important to us. I'm on a journey to add personality and panache to every corner of my house. For me, good design evolves, grows and changes with the needs of one's lifestyle. I want my home to be creative, to be stylish, to be entertaining, to be real. I hope you will join me on my journey. It's always more fun to travel together.

This blog is all about bringing style and elegance to the home. The art of dressing your home goes beyond hanging a few items on the wall and arranging furniture. Much like a fabulous set of earrings or a new stylish handbag may take your little black dress from fine to fabulous, home accesories and key furnishings can take your rooms from ho-hum to singing the Halleluiah Chorus! Join with me as we discover new ways to add panache to every room of the house.

Okay, you are ready to begin a new decorating project. But you don't know where to start. You sort of have an idea of what you would like but you're unsure how to pull it off. The first thing is to find INSPIRATION. I usually sit down and write out what I want to accomplish. It's like writing down your goals. I guess that is a carryover from my days in the corporate world. Once I have written out the scope of my project, I begin looking for items that inspire me. A color in a fabric or the line on a piece of favorite furniture. You can find inspiration everywhere. The key is knowing what you are trying to accomplish. That's why it is so important to begin with a written idea or goal. I like to visit model homes, design centers, showrooms and retail outlets. I take along my digital camera and snap as many pictures as I can. Every time I see an item, color or shape that captures my attention, I memorialize it with my camera. Flipping through home decor magazines and books is another great source. Recently, I took a day to seek out inspiration. I was able to visit a new home community where Ryan Homes is creating a fabulous new neighborhood. I then traveled over to Charlotte to visit my favorite place for home accents - the Black Lion. The picture above was taken in the design showroom at the Black Lion in Charlotte. I just LOVE the scalloped console table. I find myself drawn to black as an accent color. Every room should have at least one piece in black. See the details on the front of the table? This just might find its way into my house! (Sorry for the glare.)

This sofa was in the same room as the table above. (See it in the background.) Living with three guys, I am always on the lookout for pieces that are stylish and sophisticated but not "girly". This sofa would be the perfect addition to our family room.

I currently live in a Ryan Home. Ryan is building a new community not far from where we live. So I decided to pay them a visit and see their model. It just happened to be the same floor plan that I have - the Rosemont. I love the color palette used. Gold, bronze, shades of muted orange and warm apricot. Ryan does a great job selecting decorators to furnish their model homes. I haven't toured a single one I didn't like. When you are thinking about refreshing your interiors, pay a visit to your local new home builder. Inspiration can be found everywhere!

This is the dining room of the model home. I was shocked yet surprised to see the decor. This dining room could be in my house. Same colors, same style, same feel. Beautiful. I love using large mirrors in the dining room. My parents gave me a lovely gold gilt-frame mirror for Christmas one year. It currently graces my dining room wall flanked on either side by smaller framed prints. Even the gold walls look like home. I use Laura Ashley - Gold 5 in my dining room. It is so warm and inviting. Love it!

Here is another photo from my trip to the Black Lion. This grouping caught my eye because of the shades of orange and apricot used in the pillows and accent chair. I currently have a love affair with orange. I've used it in my family room, sunroom and bath. Orange is a great color for creating energy. Not as heavy as red and much more exciting than yellow. Since I entertain a lot, I look for room furnishings that create excitement, energy and panache.

Come to the Table

Life & Style By God's Design

About Me

I am an Interior Decorator who loves all things home and hearth! Decorating, painting, arranging furniture and home accessories is not a chore but where creativity and inspiration take flight. I love to entertain, cook and extend hospitality. I've been married for 21 years and have two wonderful sons. I believe home should be a haven, a place of beauty and rest from the pressures of daily life. Join me on my quest to add beauty one room at a time.